US4235468A - Bottle carrier - Google Patents

Bottle carrier Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US4235468A
US4235468A US06/029,715 US2971579A US4235468A US 4235468 A US4235468 A US 4235468A US 2971579 A US2971579 A US 2971579A US 4235468 A US4235468 A US 4235468A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
bottle
bottles
frame
supporting
loop bar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US06/029,715
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gerald Erickson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
INTERNATIONAL OMNI-PAK Corp
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US06/029,715 priority Critical patent/US4235468A/en
Priority to CA348,987A priority patent/CA1128476A/en
Priority to ZA00802107A priority patent/ZA802107B/xx
Priority to AU57308/80A priority patent/AU531444B2/en
Priority to JP55501038A priority patent/JPS604061B2/ja
Priority to DE8080900860T priority patent/DE3068773D1/de
Priority to PCT/US1980/000390 priority patent/WO1980002275A1/en
Priority to EP80900860A priority patent/EP0027132B1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4235468A publication Critical patent/US4235468A/en
Priority to BE0/217132A priority patent/BE905389Q/fr
Assigned to INTERNATIONAL OMNI-PAK CORPORATION reassignment INTERNATIONAL OMNI-PAK CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ERICKSON, GERALD
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/50—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an integrally formed bottle carrier for supporting a plurality of bottles and maintaining them in a relatively close cluster.
  • the integrally formed bottle carrier of the present invention provides a plurality of bottle supporting collars for receiving and supporting therein the necks of the bottles to be carried, an upper frame for supporting the collars in spaced apart relationship to each other so that the bottles are closely clustered, a bottle retaining bar below the frame and forming a closed loop around the cluster of bottles and a plurality of depending supports from the frame for supporting the bottle retaining loop bar.
  • Bottle carriers capable of supporting a plurality of bottles by their necks have been heretofore proposed.
  • bottle carriers of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,633,962, issued Jan. 11, 1972, and 4,093,295, issued June 6, 1978.
  • bottle carriers of this type have provided effective and economical carriers which display the bottles assembled therein, the bottles are free to move relative to and strike one another with possible damage to the bottles.
  • a carrier which consists essentially of a formed shroud which covers and conceals the upper ends of the bottles and has openings therein for receiving and supporting the necks of a cluster of bottles.
  • This carrier is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,094, issued Feb. 13, 1979.
  • the shroud is contoured to the shape of the clustered bottles and thus maintains the bottles in a close cluster. However, it covers and conceals at least the upper portions of the bottles. The shroud is bent, distorted and ultimately destroyed as the bottles are removed therefrom so that it cannot be reused.
  • the bottle carrier of the present invention provides an economical and effective bottle carrier which does not conceal the upper or any other portion of the bottles carried therein. It is attractive, inconspicuous, rugged and reusable.
  • the bottle retaining loop bar serves not only to effectively and closely contain the cluster of bottles, but to assist in the removal of a bottle from the carrier; the carriers are nestable for storage or packaging in a relatively small space; the carriers are provided with bottle dividers integrally formed with and depending from the frame to engage adjacent bottles and thereby cooperate with the retaining loop bar to maintain a close cluster of bottles; and the carrier include tamperproof closures integrally formed as part of the bottle carrier.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bottle carrier embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing another bottle carrier in phantom lines in nested relation therewith;
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged portions of the areas indicated in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of another bottle carrier embodying the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of still another embodiment of a bottle carrier embodying the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the bottle carrier shown in FIG. 6 with parts broken away and shown in cross-section;
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of a portion of the bottle carrier shown in FIG. 7.
  • a bottle carrier embodying the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a plurality of spaced collars 10 for receiving and supporting therein the necks of bottles A to be packaged, a frame 11 for supporting the collars in spaced relation, a bottle retaining bar 12 beneath the frame and formed in a closed loop encircling the bottles to be packaged and supports 13 depending from the frame for supporting the bottle retaining loop bar.
  • the collars 10 and the frame 11 are generally similar to the six-bottle carrier disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,962.
  • the frame 11 is subdivided into a plurality of individual frames 11a each containing one of the collars 10.
  • the collars are preferably spaced so that the distance between the centers of adjacent collars is substantially the width or diameter of the bottle to be carried, as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the collars 10 are tapered conical sections larger at the bottom than at the top to facilitate the insertion of the bottle necks therein from the bottom.
  • Each collar is split to provide an enlarged opening 14, and the split ends are connected to the inner leg of the individual frame by a pair of connections 15 and 16 which extend diagonally away from each other from the split ends toward the frame leg to which they are connected.
  • the angular relationship of the connections 15 and 16 permits the split collar to be forced open to facilitate insertion and removal of a bottle while at the same time providing support for the split collar to prevent it from sagging under the weight of a bottle and offering resistance to accidental spreading of the split collar when it is supporting a bottle therein.
  • the collar 10 is also supported within its individual frame by lateral supports 17 and by a yoke 18 directly opposite the opening 14.
  • the yoke 18 serves as a pivot for the two components of the collar to facilitate their spreading for the insertion and removal of a bottle.
  • the frame 11 includes a longitudinally extending bar 19 which, in the six-bottle carrier shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, extends substantially the length of the longer dimension of the frame.
  • the bar 19 includes a pair of finger openings 20 therein to facilitate handling. If desired, a handle can be provided or the bar 19 can serve as a handle.
  • the bottle retaining loop 12 engages portions of the outer bottles in the cluster to hold them together. Toward this end, it is preferably a continuous bar or rail spaced below the supporting collars 10 and frame 11 at about the shoulder height of the bottles. At this level the retaining loop bar 12 does not interfere with the pivotal motion of the lower end of the bottle which is necessary to remove the neck from the split collar; in fact, the bar actually facilitates the removal of the bottle by providing a back-up bar to help force the neck out of the collar opening.
  • the frame 11 carries a plurality of bottle engaging wedge-shaped dividers 21 to maintain the bottles in side-by-side or closely spaced relationship, as desired.
  • the upper ends of the dividers are integrally formed with and depend downwardly from pairs of adjacent legs of collar supporting frames 11a. They each include a pair of spaced apart members 21a, in this embodiment V-shaped, joined at the lower ends by a connection 21b.
  • the lower ends of the dividers 21 are wedged between the shoulders of adjacent bottles, and they cooperate with the outer loop bar 12 to hold the bottles in a tight cluster.
  • the bottle carriers are nestable so that they can be stacked in a small space for packaging and for storage in the chute of a machine from which they are automatically dispensed.
  • the loop bar of the upper bottle carrier is capable of encompassing the frame of the underneath bottle carrier when the two are nested.
  • the bottle dividers 21 of a pair of nesting carriers also intermesh. In nesting relationship the upper frames 11 and the retaining loop bars 12 of the two nesting carriers settle in closely spaced relationship.
  • the frame 11 of the lower carrier In order to permit the intermeshing of the depending bottle dividers 21 for the nesting of a pair of bottle carriers, the frame 11 of the lower carrier must contain openings at the upper ends of each of the bottle dividers to permit the depending dividers of the upper carrier to intermesh with the depending dividers of the lower carrier.
  • the longitudinally arranged bottle dividers present no difficulty in this regard because they are arranged intermediate open portions of the frame between the individual frames 11a, but transverse slots 19a must be provided in the longitudinally extending bar 19 for this purpose.
  • a two-bottle carrier embodying the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and includes a pair of collars 10 supported in oppositely oriented relationship in a frame 11.
  • the spacing between the collars 10 is the same as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the frame 11 has a longitudinally extending bar 19 having a collar supporting frame 11a at both ends.
  • a bottle retaining loop bar 12 is supported beneath the frame 11 by a plurality of depending supports 13 to maintain the bottles in close cluster relationship.
  • the frame 11, and more particularly the longitudinally extending bar 19, has integrally formed therewith a depending wedge-shaped bottle divider 23, in this case U-shaped, to maintain the bottles in side-by-side or slightly spaced relationship.
  • the divider 23 includes a pair of downwardly depending legs 23a, 23b joined at their lower ends by a connection 23c. The lower ends of the legs 23a and 23b engage adjacent bottles about shoulder height and the connection 23c has enough rigidity to maintain the bottles in a tight cluster, but also enough flexibility to readily adjust to the space provided between the shoulders of adjacent bottles.
  • the carrier shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be gripped and carried by the bar 19.
  • a longitudinally extending slot 19a in the bar 19 accommodates the bottle divider 23 of an upper carrier when the carriers are nested.
  • the bottle carrier shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 is generally similar to the bottle carrier described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, except that bottle closures 24 formed integrally with the frame 11 at opposite ends of the longitudinally extending bar 19 are substituted for the split collars 10.
  • the necks of the bottles can either be snap-locked or screwed into the closures 24.
  • Each closure 24, as best shown in FIG. 8, includes a cap portion 24a having internal threads or ribs 24b which interlock with external threads or ribs a formed on the outer periphery of the neck of the bottle.
  • the closure 24 also has an inner depending stopper 24c integrally formed therewith to engage the opening in the neck of the bottle to form an effective seal.
  • closures 24 are either force-fitted on the bottles or the bottles are screwed into the closures.
  • they are each provided with a shrink ring skirt 24d which locks the closure to the neck of the bottle when shrunk by heat and/or pressure.
  • the skirt is connected to the upper portion of the closure by a perforated or weakened line 24e which causes the skirt to be separated from the upper portion of the closure when the bottle is forced out of or unscrewed from the closure.
  • skirts of the closures are intact, the customer can be assured of the integrity of the package. If any skirt has been broken or separated from the closure, the customer will be alerted to the fact that the integrity of the package is suspect.
  • the bottle carrier of the invention is preferably made in one piece of a resilient plastic material, such as injection molded polypropylene. It provides an effective, economical and convenient package for carrying a cluster of bottles in relatively close and controlled fashion. Since the bottles can be inserted and withdrawn without destroying the carrier, the carrier can be used for handling full, partially full and empty bottles and used not only for carrying home a cluster of newly purchased bottles but also for returning the empty bottles.
  • a resilient plastic material such as injection molded polypropylene

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)
US06/029,715 1979-04-13 1979-04-13 Bottle carrier Expired - Lifetime US4235468A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/029,715 US4235468A (en) 1979-04-13 1979-04-13 Bottle carrier
CA348,987A CA1128476A (en) 1979-04-13 1980-04-01 Bottle carrier
ZA00802107A ZA802107B (en) 1979-04-13 1980-04-09 Bottle carrier
AU57308/80A AU531444B2 (en) 1979-04-13 1980-04-10 Bottle carrier
JP55501038A JPS604061B2 (ja) 1979-04-13 1980-04-11 びん担持装置
DE8080900860T DE3068773D1 (en) 1979-04-13 1980-04-11 Bottle carrier
PCT/US1980/000390 WO1980002275A1 (en) 1979-04-13 1980-04-11 Bottle carrier
EP80900860A EP0027132B1 (en) 1979-04-13 1980-11-04 Bottle carrier
BE0/217132A BE905389Q (fr) 1979-04-13 1986-09-05 Porte-bouteilles.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/029,715 US4235468A (en) 1979-04-13 1979-04-13 Bottle carrier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4235468A true US4235468A (en) 1980-11-25

Family

ID=21850490

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/029,715 Expired - Lifetime US4235468A (en) 1979-04-13 1979-04-13 Bottle carrier

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US4235468A (ja)
EP (1) EP0027132B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPS604061B2 (ja)
AU (1) AU531444B2 (ja)
BE (1) BE905389Q (ja)
CA (1) CA1128476A (ja)
DE (1) DE3068773D1 (ja)
WO (1) WO1980002275A1 (ja)
ZA (1) ZA802107B (ja)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4360231A (en) * 1980-11-03 1982-11-23 Liberty Glass Company Bottle carrier
US4365835A (en) * 1980-08-11 1982-12-28 Quelch Albert G B Contour bottle carrier
US4372598A (en) * 1980-08-11 1983-02-08 Quelch Albert G B Contour bottle carrier
US4453630A (en) * 1982-11-04 1984-06-12 Container Corporation Of America Reinforced multi-article carrier
US4471987A (en) * 1982-10-25 1984-09-18 Gerald Erickson Bottle carrier
US4484774A (en) * 1982-05-10 1984-11-27 Liberty Glass Company Bottle carrier
US4523677A (en) * 1983-08-03 1985-06-18 American Ka-Ro Corporation Bottle holder
DE3535521A1 (de) * 1984-10-22 1986-04-24 Owens-Illinois, Inc., Toledo, Ohio Verbesserter traeger fuer flaschen
US5096246A (en) * 1990-10-12 1992-03-17 Hoover Universal, Inc. Bottle carrier
US5306060A (en) * 1992-07-06 1994-04-26 Oregon Precision Industries, Inc. Carrier strap for bottles or jugs
US5346271A (en) * 1993-02-25 1994-09-13 International Omni-Pac Corp. Carrier for containers
US5413395A (en) * 1993-04-08 1995-05-09 International Omni-Pak Corporation Carrier for bottles and like containers
US5480204A (en) * 1994-09-12 1996-01-02 Erickson; Richard W. Carrier for containers
US5735562A (en) * 1997-02-18 1998-04-07 Oregon Precision Industries, Inc. Multi-container carrier
US6129397A (en) * 1998-07-15 2000-10-10 Oregon Precision Industries Six pack carrier
US6213297B1 (en) * 1999-08-30 2001-04-10 Regale, Corporation Packaging for bottles and bottle neck shroud for use therewith
US6394517B1 (en) 2001-04-11 2002-05-28 Oregon Precision Industries Single bottle carrier
US6715810B2 (en) 2002-09-09 2004-04-06 Oregon Precision Industries, Inc. Three bottle carrier
US20100072084A1 (en) * 2008-09-22 2010-03-25 James Waugh Bottle Carrier
US10315818B2 (en) * 2015-04-10 2019-06-11 Jose Francisco Gonzalez Sanchez Grouper means for containers

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK504283A (da) * 1982-11-04 1984-05-05 Patent Dev International Ltd Baerer for flere genstande
MX158632A (es) * 1984-04-23 1989-02-20 Maquinas Fabricacion Sa De Mejoras en portador para sujetar botellas o articulos similares
AU608099B2 (en) * 1987-12-16 1991-03-21 Alexandros Karytinos Building frame construction
WO1995008488A1 (en) * 1993-09-21 1995-03-30 Dynoplast As Bottle carrier

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2823063A (en) * 1956-02-24 1958-02-11 New Haven Board & Carton Compa Carrier cartons
US3589509A (en) * 1968-12-13 1971-06-29 Continental Can Co Combination carrier and can opener
US3930588A (en) * 1973-02-13 1976-01-06 Le Bouchage Mecanique Bottle cap
US4139094A (en) * 1977-05-06 1979-02-13 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Carrier for bottles

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3350131A (en) * 1965-10-24 1967-10-31 John J Tanzer Combined carrying unit and coaster
US3633962A (en) * 1970-09-17 1972-01-11 Gerald Erickson Bottle carrier
US3784003A (en) * 1972-09-22 1974-01-08 H Bolton Bottle carrier
US4063771A (en) * 1976-06-11 1977-12-20 The Mead Corporation Bottle carrier

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2823063A (en) * 1956-02-24 1958-02-11 New Haven Board & Carton Compa Carrier cartons
US3589509A (en) * 1968-12-13 1971-06-29 Continental Can Co Combination carrier and can opener
US3930588A (en) * 1973-02-13 1976-01-06 Le Bouchage Mecanique Bottle cap
US4139094A (en) * 1977-05-06 1979-02-13 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Carrier for bottles

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4365835A (en) * 1980-08-11 1982-12-28 Quelch Albert G B Contour bottle carrier
US4372598A (en) * 1980-08-11 1983-02-08 Quelch Albert G B Contour bottle carrier
US4360231A (en) * 1980-11-03 1982-11-23 Liberty Glass Company Bottle carrier
US4484774A (en) * 1982-05-10 1984-11-27 Liberty Glass Company Bottle carrier
US4471987A (en) * 1982-10-25 1984-09-18 Gerald Erickson Bottle carrier
US4453630A (en) * 1982-11-04 1984-06-12 Container Corporation Of America Reinforced multi-article carrier
US4523677A (en) * 1983-08-03 1985-06-18 American Ka-Ro Corporation Bottle holder
DE3535521A1 (de) * 1984-10-22 1986-04-24 Owens-Illinois, Inc., Toledo, Ohio Verbesserter traeger fuer flaschen
US5096246A (en) * 1990-10-12 1992-03-17 Hoover Universal, Inc. Bottle carrier
USRE35288E (en) * 1992-07-06 1996-07-02 Oregon Precision Industries, Inc. Carrier strap for bottles or jugs
US5306060A (en) * 1992-07-06 1994-04-26 Oregon Precision Industries, Inc. Carrier strap for bottles or jugs
US5346271A (en) * 1993-02-25 1994-09-13 International Omni-Pac Corp. Carrier for containers
US5413395A (en) * 1993-04-08 1995-05-09 International Omni-Pak Corporation Carrier for bottles and like containers
US5480204A (en) * 1994-09-12 1996-01-02 Erickson; Richard W. Carrier for containers
US5735562A (en) * 1997-02-18 1998-04-07 Oregon Precision Industries, Inc. Multi-container carrier
US6129397A (en) * 1998-07-15 2000-10-10 Oregon Precision Industries Six pack carrier
US6213297B1 (en) * 1999-08-30 2001-04-10 Regale, Corporation Packaging for bottles and bottle neck shroud for use therewith
US6394517B1 (en) 2001-04-11 2002-05-28 Oregon Precision Industries Single bottle carrier
US6715810B2 (en) 2002-09-09 2004-04-06 Oregon Precision Industries, Inc. Three bottle carrier
US20100072084A1 (en) * 2008-09-22 2010-03-25 James Waugh Bottle Carrier
US10315818B2 (en) * 2015-04-10 2019-06-11 Jose Francisco Gonzalez Sanchez Grouper means for containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA802107B (en) 1981-04-29
AU531444B2 (en) 1983-08-25
JPS56500369A (ja) 1981-03-26
EP0027132B1 (en) 1984-08-01
DE3068773D1 (en) 1984-09-06
EP0027132A1 (en) 1981-04-22
CA1128476A (en) 1982-07-27
WO1980002275A1 (en) 1980-10-30
BE905389Q (fr) 1986-12-31
JPS604061B2 (ja) 1985-02-01
EP0027132A4 (en) 1981-07-16
AU5730880A (en) 1980-10-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4235468A (en) Bottle carrier
US4120396A (en) Reusable can carrier with can enlocking means on opposite surfaces
US4360231A (en) Bottle carrier
US4111298A (en) Reusable can carrier strip
US4313539A (en) Additive cap and package therefor
US3156358A (en) Carrier and multi-container package
US4804092A (en) Nestable container
US5590805A (en) Fruit box
CA2280058C (en) Attachment for bottle neck
US5306060A (en) Carrier strap for bottles or jugs
US5735406A (en) Carrier for a medication dispenser
CA2920897A1 (en) Container and lid
US3199908A (en) Container carrier and package
US4372598A (en) Contour bottle carrier
US7448493B2 (en) Bottle carrier
US4569440A (en) Carrier for bottles and the like
US4471987A (en) Bottle carrier
US4249766A (en) Bottle separating and connecting band
US5285892A (en) Sanitary can carriers and multiple beverage can packages including the same
EP0322152A2 (en) A crate
JP2004115129A (ja) パッケージ
AU738700B2 (en) A crate
NO130226B (ja)
EP0329394A2 (en) Cap for bottles and the like
US3552593A (en) Nestable container

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: INTERNATIONAL OMNI-PAK CORPORATION, FLORIDA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ERICKSON, GERALD;REEL/FRAME:007505/0172

Effective date: 19861015